FA elections: the reappearance of Irina Karamanos in Yeomans' first campaign activity

Gael Yeomans, a member of Chile’s parliament representing the Frente Amplio (FA), launched her campaign for the party's leadership on Tuesday night with a virtual meeting attended by approximately 350 supporters. The event marked the first official campaign activity for Yeomans, who will face off against the continuity list led by Consta Martínez in the August 8 and 9 elections. Notable among the attendees was Irina Karamanos, the former First Lady and ex-partner of President Gabriel Boric, whose presence drew attention given her political influence and recent public activities. The virtual gathering featured several key figures within the FA, including Senator Diego Ibáñez, who serves as Yeomans' campaign manager, former Undersecretary of Regional Development Francisca Perales, FA Executive Secretary Simón Ramírez, and Javiera Cabello, formerly the chief of staff to Antonia Orellana. Also present were Yeomans herself, along with Magda Cottet, the candidate for secretary general of Yeomans' list. During the meeting, Ibáñez emphasized that Yeomans could bring more visibility and prominence to the FA, while Cottet focused on the need to move beyond comfort zones to challenge for control of the party. Yeomans reiterated positions she has previously expressed publicly, such as her criticism that the FA appears silent despite being the largest party in the country. Karamanos, however, did not speak during the event, which lasted nearly an hour. Her participation underscored her continued relevance in the political landscape, particularly after her role in reshaping the institutional framework of the First Lady’s office during her time in the Boric government. She had previously ended the formal structure associated with the position, transferring entities like Prodemu, Integra, and Chilenter out of its oversight. Karamanos recently made headlines for her comments on social media regarding the potential return of the First Lady role following the victory of President José Antonio Kast. Kast’s wife, Pía Adriasola, suggested reviving the tradition similar to past First Ladies Cecilia Morel and Marta Larraechea. In response, Karamanos questioned this initiative, stating it seemed to be a dilemma for Adriasola, either preserving the austerity measures announced by her husband or maintaining a tradition that fills the void left by previous reigns. She added, “Whether it’s sleepwear or thrones in the palace, our politics being presidentialist doesn’t mean it can't be contemporary.” On the opposing side, the continuity list led by Constanza Martínez includes prominent figures such as Boric and Gonzalo Winter, as well as former members of the Revolutionary Democracy movement like Giorgio Jackson and Tomás Vodanovic, and former members of the defunct Common Party, including Giorgio Boccardo and Javiera Toro. This list also benefits from support known as “boricismo,” a term referring to the political alignment with Boric’s legacy. Carlos Durán, the former chief of staff to Boric, is competing for a seat on the party’s central committee. Supporters of the continuity list have been gaining momentum, including influential local politicians connected to the former Revolutionary Democracy faction. Among them is Tomás Vodanovic, the mayor of Maipú, who stated on Wednesday that he would support the continuity list. He noted that the majority of mayors are committed to backing this list, mentioning specific names such as Macarena Ripamonti of Viña del Mar, Carla Amtmann of Valdivia, and Miguel Concha of Peñalolén. Vodanovic acknowledged mutual respect among the candidates but indicated his group would take a less active and less confrontational role in the campaign.